Talking free agency, Joe Harris says all the right things about Brooklyn

Joe Harris will be one of five unrestricted free agents on the Nets this July, but he’s likely the one that will attract the most attention from other teams. Once considered a shooter and not much else, Harris has rounded out his game during his two years in Brooklyn, becoming not just a 40 percent shooter from deep but one of the NBA’s top finishers by percentage, and an increasingly solid defender.

So, what’s he thinking about free agency. In an interview with Basketball Insiders’ Dave Yapkowitz, Harris said he’ll wait until the season is over to start thinking about next year, but left no doubt how he feels about Brooklyn.

“Yeah, it’s one of those things that I’ll worry about that sort of decision when the time comes. But I have really enjoyed my time in Brooklyn,” Harris told Basketball Insiders. “It’s a great organization with a lot of good people, and they try and do stuff the right way. I enjoy being a part of that and trying to kind of rebuild and set a good foundation for where the future of the Brooklyn Nets is.”

“The right way,” is the same words Allen Crabbe used when talking to our Bryan Fonseca about his intention to help the Nets recruit this summer.

Of course, Harris has been a poster boy for the Nets’ focus on development. After spending a year and a half in Cleveland, he got hurt, was traded to Orlando and cut ... all in a matter of days. The Nets, particularly assistant coach Bret Brielmaier, saw his potential and he signed a two-year, veterans minimum deal. It worked.

As he told Yapkowitz...

“I think a lot of it has to do with just the right situation in terms of circumstances. It’s a young team where you don’t really have anybody on the team that’s going out and getting 20 a night,” Harris told Basketball Insiders. “It’s a collective effort most nights and it can be any given person depending on the situation. It’s one of those things where we’re real unselfish with the ball. A lot of guys get a lot of good looks, so your production is bound to go up just because of the system now that we’re playing.”

The season may have been a disappointment with a third season of 20 wins looming, but the organization seems to agree with players who like Harris, Spencer Dinwiddie, Quincy Acy, et al. needed a second chance, got it and made the most of it.

The market for Harris is likely to be strong. As Yapkowitz notes, “He’s likely going to be one of the most coveted wings on the market.” The Nets will have advantages beyond his loyalty to the organization, though. They have his Early Bird Rights, meaning they can sign him outside cap space if they need to. And he and Kenny Atkinson have a mutual admiration society going on. It will be an interesting July.

• A breakout season for Joe Harris - David Yapkowitz - Basketball Insiders